HATTERAS – The N.C. Department of Transportation will be reopening N.C. 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island at 1:30 p.m. today. As a result, ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke will resume on a limited schedule.
The temporary schedule for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route for Sunday, Sept. 27, will be as follows:
Hatteras to Ocracoke: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight
Ocracoke to Hatteras: 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.
The temporary schedule for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route for Monday, Sept. 28, will be as follows:
Hatteras to Ocracoke: 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight
Ocracoke to Hatteras: 4 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m.
Dare County’s emergency entry restrictions will be in place for all departures to Hatteras. That means that ONLY essential personnel, critical business vendors, and permanent Hatteras Island residents will be allowed onto Hatteras-bound ferries. Law enforcement will be onsite to ensure compliance with entry restrictions. Visitors will NOT be allowed onto Hatteras-bound ferries at this time.
Those wishing to access the mainland via Swan Quarter or Cedar Island are reminded that reservations for those ferry routes are highly recommended before departing for Ocracoke. Reservations can be obtained online at ncferry.org or by calling 1-800-BY-FERRY.
Motorists are advised to drive with extreme caution on the north end of Ocracoke as there will still up to five inches of sand and water on the roadway. NCDOT crews will continue to monitor high tide cycles for any additional overwash or debris on the highway.
N.C. 12 is still closed on Pea Island due to ocean overwash and damage to the road. NCDOT crews will work to clear the road and construct a temporary, one-lane road but do not have an estimated time for when the temporary road will open.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.